Stop, Drop and Roll

06 March 2008 | Alameda Community Development Forum, Measure A, redevelopment | John Knox White

Estuary Park is still circling!

The city has been working to get property on the Northern Shore in order to speed the creation of “Estuary Park” which has been in the General Plan since it was adopted in 1991.

The city asked for a lease from the Navy in order to bridge the time-gap between now (no-park) and when the city can get the land back from the Navy (sometime). The navy in turn offered a “license” which could be revoked at any time and the ARRA agreed with staff that it was a bad deal.

Given the history of the Navy changing the terms of their negotiations every 3-6 months at Alameda Point, it’s difficult to see how a revocable license would give the city any assurances about the long term viability of the land at Estuary Park.

And speaking of the Navy and Alameda Point, the agenda also included a proposed extension of the SunCal Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA). The request was made by SunCal after they found that the PDC was not workable. They asked for an additional 6-month to put together a new land plan.

Staff worked with SunCal to include requirements of SunCal that would both better show what work has been done by the developer AND that would require them to expend money on consultants and professionals to move the plan forward.

Concerns have been raised at what appears to be a lack of movement on the project and an inability for the city to identify any work that’s being done. The proposed agreement will create more transparency in the process.

Listening to the discussion, I’m always impressed with Pat Keliher’s ability to answer questions off-the-cuff and genuinely. Councilmember deHaan asked whether SunCal should be looking at housing due to costs and the current declining market. Keliher’s response (paraphrase ahead) “I don’t have a crystal ball and can’t predict future markets” and then he said “Although the marketplace might not look good today, at some point you have to bet on the future…If you’re going to be hyper-focused on what’s happening in the market today, you’ll never get anything accomplished.”

Nothing sums up many of the development problems that have cropped up in Alameda better. Look at FISC, which was going to be 100% research/commercial, until the commercial market tanked. Look at Alameda Point, which was going to focus exclusively on housing in it’s early phases, until the housing market declined.

Keliher talked about the need to take a leap of faith when planning for the future. Our community certainly needs to keep its needs/desires for Alameda Point foremost in our minds, but then be willing to have some faith in our development partner and work together on a community supported vision.

And with that we saw a motion by Councilmember Matarrese, a suggestion by Tam that SunCal get out and see the community soon, and a second by Gilmore and the ARRA (council) vote to extend the SunCal agreement by 6 months.

Well played.

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